Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit): 2026-27 seasons, rules and map

FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit) sets 3 deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on February 12-14. The area is 6,103 acres of public hunting land in Polk County, a wildlife management area in FWC's southwest region. Around it, FWC estimates 1,973 deer were taken in DMU B1 in the 2023-24 season.

Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: FWC's 2026-27 regulations summary for the area. Harvest: FWC's statewide deer harvest survey by DMU, 2023-24.

When are the 2026-27 seasons on Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit)?

Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more.

Source: FWC Hilochee - Osprey Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, read October 2026. The brochure and FWC's rules are the final word.

What quota permits does Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit) need?

• Family Hunt - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Dog - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What rules apply on Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit)?

Dogs

• Hunting deer with dogs is prohibited.
• The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
• Hunting wild hog with dogs is prohibited except during the wild hog-dog season.
• Hunting with dogs, other than bird dogs, is prohibited, except any dog may be used during the wild hog-dog season and during the small game season to take small game (quail, rabbit, squirrel and migratory birds) and non-protected birds.
• No person shall allow any dog to pursue or molest any wildlife during any period in which the taking of wildlife by the use of dogs is prohibited.

Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules

• Note: A check station will not be operated and hunters are not required to check in/out.
• All hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report any harvested deer or turkey they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook or MyFWC.com for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.

Guns

• Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited (see exception under small game season).
• Taking wildlife with a gun at night equipped with a thermal or night-vision device is prohibited.
• Muzzleloading guns used for hunting deer must be .30 caliber or larger, if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls.
• Hunting wildlife (other than migratory birds) with air guns is allowed. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for details.

Access and vehicles

• Open to public access year round but only from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except during the small game season when public access is allowed at anytime beginning 1½ hours before sunrise on the first day of the season until 1½ hours after sunset on the last day of the season and during the youth turkey hunt when public access is limited to only individuals participating in the hunt or fishing on area lakes and ponds. During periods when the area is closed to hunting and scouting, public access other than by foot, bicycle or horse is prohibited.
• All persons must enter and exit the area through a designated entrance.
• During all hunts, except small game, only individuals participating in a hunt may operate a motor vehicle on the area. Motorized vehicle access is allowed 1 day before each hunt and during each hunt from 1½ hours before sunrise until 1½ hours after sunset, except small game. During small game season, any individual may operate a motor vehicle on the area from 1½ hours before sunrise on the first day of the season until 1½ hours after sunset on the last day of the season.
• Motor vehicles may be operated on named roads only and must be parked in designated parking areas or within 25 feet of a named road.
• Motor vehicles must enter and exit the area at the designated entrance located at the intersection of C.R. 17 (Old Polk City Road) and Robert L. Tanner Grade.

Camping

• Prohibited.

Bag limits

• A guest hunter must share the host’s bag limit for deer, turkey, and quail, except when these bag limits are specified as per person. The host is responsible for violations that exceed the bag limit.
• Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area limits - 2 antlered deer per quota permit, but only 1 per person. B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 2 of which may be antlerless), daily limit 2, possession limit 4. C. As part of the statewide annual deer limit, youth less than 16 years of age may harvest 1 deer annually not meeting antler point requirements but having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.
• Wild hog - No size or bag limit.

From FWC Hilochee - Osprey Unit regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

How many deer are taken around Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit)?

FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit) lies in DMU B1. FWC estimates 1,973 deer (1,359 bucks, 614 does) in DMU B1 in the 2023-24 season, 601 of them on public land.

Source: FWC 2023-24 Harvest Survey Results. FWC's per-area harvest figures are in its WMA harvest reports tool.

Which county is Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit) in?

Measured by FilledTag on FWC Wildlife Management Areas Florida (open data) and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries.

How do you get to Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit)?

Highways within 5 miles: I-4, FL 400, FL 25 and US 27. Nearest towns: Lake Alfred (next to it), Davenport (4 miles), Polk City (5 miles) and Auburndale (5 miles). FWC's page for the area: Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit).

The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Hilochee WMA (2.5 miles), Lake Marion Creek WMA (6.3 miles), Green Swamp WMA (11.7 miles) and Creek Ranch WMA (14.3 miles).

Questions hunters ask

When is deer season on Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit) in 2026-27?

Archery Season: February 12-14; Muzzleloading Gun Season: February 19-21; General Gun Season: February 26-28. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.

What deer are legal on Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit)?

Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit)?

Hunting deer with dogs is prohibited.

Do you need a quota permit for Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit)?

Family Hunt - 15, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Still - 40, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Wild Hog-Dog - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts. Archery - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Muzzleloading gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). General gun - 10, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Youth Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions). Spring Turkey - 5, no-cost, quota permits (no exemptions) for each of 2 hunts.

What county is Hilochee WMA (Osprey Unit) in?

Polk County, measured on FWC's boundary.

You need a hunting license, a management area permit and any quota permit the area lists, plus deer and turkey permits as FWC requires. Statewide WMA basics. FilledTag is not part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; seasons and rules are copied from FWC's brochure, maps from FWC's WMA layer, each with its source above.

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